Always...without ceasing...all...
Children's sermon
Object:
A happy face drawing
Good morning! Now I want everyone to put on one of these
(hold up the happy face). If I asked you to smile, many of you
probably would smile. I like to smile and smile as often as I
can. I smile when I'm happy. That is why this drawing is called a
"happy face" drawing -- it is smiling. When we are happy we
smile.
Can anyone smile all the time? (Let them answer.) Of course not! The smile muscles in our faces wouldn't last that long! They need rest like our other muscles need rest. Besides that, who feels like smiling all the time? Some things in life make us feel unhappy and perhaps make us frown (turn the happy face upside- down).
The apostle Paul begins his letter to the congregation of Thessalonians with the words, "Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances." When he uses the words "always" and "without ceasing" (which means "never stopping"), and the word "all," then it becomes something we cannot do. We cannot always rejoice. We need time to rest, eat, speak, listen, and play. We cannot pray without stopping! We cannot give thanks for all circumstances.
I think what the apostle Paul wanted us to know is that we can trust God enough to rejoice ... pray ... and give thanks for whatever happens in life. We know that God's love for us is greater than anything that makes us unhappy. God's love for us is greater than anything that hurts us. God's love for us is stronger than anything that could make us miserable.
If we know that God loves us -- no matter what happens to us -- then that makes a big difference in our lives, doesn't it? (Let them answer.) Would anyone want to share some things that might not make you happy? (Let them answer. Perhaps even better than having the children share, prearrange for adults from the congregation to share some unhappy events in their lives and how God loved them through the problems.) God loves us no matter what happens to us. Isn't that great?
Dear God: Thank you for your love in every part of our lives -- the good and the bad. Amen.
Can anyone smile all the time? (Let them answer.) Of course not! The smile muscles in our faces wouldn't last that long! They need rest like our other muscles need rest. Besides that, who feels like smiling all the time? Some things in life make us feel unhappy and perhaps make us frown (turn the happy face upside- down).
The apostle Paul begins his letter to the congregation of Thessalonians with the words, "Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances." When he uses the words "always" and "without ceasing" (which means "never stopping"), and the word "all," then it becomes something we cannot do. We cannot always rejoice. We need time to rest, eat, speak, listen, and play. We cannot pray without stopping! We cannot give thanks for all circumstances.
I think what the apostle Paul wanted us to know is that we can trust God enough to rejoice ... pray ... and give thanks for whatever happens in life. We know that God's love for us is greater than anything that makes us unhappy. God's love for us is greater than anything that hurts us. God's love for us is stronger than anything that could make us miserable.
If we know that God loves us -- no matter what happens to us -- then that makes a big difference in our lives, doesn't it? (Let them answer.) Would anyone want to share some things that might not make you happy? (Let them answer. Perhaps even better than having the children share, prearrange for adults from the congregation to share some unhappy events in their lives and how God loved them through the problems.) God loves us no matter what happens to us. Isn't that great?
Dear God: Thank you for your love in every part of our lives -- the good and the bad. Amen.
